Written Answers Thursday 1 May 2008

First Minister

Class Sizes

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the First Minister whether the Scottish Government considers that its target for primary class size reduction will be delivered during this parliamentary session.

Nicola Sturgeon: Our target is as set out in the historic concordat with local government – to reduce class sizes in P1 to P3 to a maximum of 18 as quickly as is possible. Local government will be expected to show year-on-year progress toward delivery of the class size reduction policy.

Scottish Executive

Antisocial Behaviour

Paul Martin (Glasgow Springburn) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive on how many occasions from 20 May 2007 to 24 April 2008 the provisions of the Antisocial Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Act 2004 were used for (a) antisocial behaviour orders for under-16-year-olds, (b) dispersal orders, (c) closure notices, (d) fixed penalty notices for noise nuisance, (e) antisocial behaviour notices, (f) parenting orders, (g) restriction of liberty orders for under-16-year-olds and (h) charging people selling spray paint to under-16-year-olds.

Fergus Ewing: Statistics on the number of times antisocial behaviour measures were used to end-September 2007 are available on our website at www.antisocialbehaviourscotland.com . Figures for the period up to end-March 2008 are currently being collected and will be published on our website shortly. Figures held centrally are not broken down into less than six-monthly periods.

Antisocial Behaviour

Paul Martin (Glasgow Springburn) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive on how many occasions from the receipt of Royal Assent to 19 May 2007 the provisions of the Antisocial Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Act 2004 were used for (a) antisocial behaviour orders for under-16-year-olds, (b) dispersal orders, (c) closure notices, (d) fixed penalty notices for noise nuisance, (e) antisocial behaviour notices, (f) parenting orders, (g) restriction of liberty orders for under-16-year-olds and (h) charging people selling spray paint to under-16-year-olds.

Fergus Ewing: Statistics on the number of times antisocial behaviour measures have been used up to end-September 2007 are available on our website at:

  www.antisocialbehaviourscotland.com. Figures held centrally are not broken down into less than six-monthly periods.

Biodiversity

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what guarantees it can provide that the commitment to halt the loss of Scotland’s biodiversity will be sufficiently funded, following the reduction in Scottish Natural Heritage’s budget, the loss of the Biodiversity Action Grants Scheme and the pressure on Scottish Rural Development Programme resources.

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfied that the current funding levels for biodiversity will enable Scotland to meet the 2010 targets to halt to the loss of biodiversity.

Michael Russell: The Scottish Government is committed to halting the loss of Scotland’s biodiversity by 2010. It will continue to work in partnership with Scottish Natural Heritage, Forestry Commission Scotland and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and with non-government organisations to achieve this. In the case of the public agencies, this will be funded through existing programmes and resources as determined by the Spending Review. Although there are pressures for funding under the Scotland Rural Development Programme 2007-13 we are confident that biodiversity objectives will be met within the overall budget of some £1.6 billion.

Biodiversity

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it is making towards developing plans to deliver the next phase of the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy by spring 2008, as set out by the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment on 13 June 2007, and what funding will be made available to deliver those plans.

Michael Russell: Consultation on the second set of implementation plans (2008-10) for the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy concluded in March 2008. These will be finalised shortly and taken forward by the Scottish Government in partnership with Scottish Environment Protection Agency, Forestry Commission Scotland and Scottish Natural Heritage, the relevant statutory organisations charged with managing the natural environment, and with non-government organisations. In the case of the public agencies, this will be funded through existing programmes and resources as determined by the spending review.

Bridges

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which body is responsible for deciding whether the Forth Road Bridge should be closed to high-sided vehicles.

John Swinney: Traffic management at the Forth Road Bridge is a matter for the Forth Estuary Transport Authority.

Buildings

Malcolm Chisholm (Edinburgh North and Leith) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will give detailed information about the extra powers to be given to three pilot local authorities to deal with listed building casework.

Linda Fabiani: The additional power arising from the proposed delegation of listed building consent will allow local authorities to issue such consents without formally notifying Historic Scotland.

  Currently local authorities must notify Historic Scotland on behalf of ministers where they are minded to grant listed building consent. This can cause delays in the issuing of such consents as notification occurs only when the local authority have reached a view. This requirement arises from the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997.Under the proposed agreements, local authorities would not have to undertake formal notification for certain works to category B listed buildings, but would instead be able to issue a consent immediately upon reaching a view. This change has been made possible by section 55(2) of the Planning etc (Scotland) Act 2006.The scope of the scheme of delegation will be subject to agreement with each local authority and may vary dependent upon the resources and expertise available locally.

Class Sizes

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding has been given to East Ayrshire Council to reduce P1 to P3 class sizes to 18 in Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley.

Fiona Hyslop: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-12266 on 30 April 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Class Sizes

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the draft single outcome agreement from East Ayrshire Council specifies how many P1 to P3 classes in Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley will be reduced to 18 in each of the next three years and, if so, what the details are in the agreement.

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the draft single outcome agreement from South Ayrshire Council specifies how many P1 to P3 classes in Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley will be reduced to 18 in each of the next three years and, if so, what the details are in the agreement.

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the draft single outcome agreement from East Ayrshire Council specifies how many P1 to P3 classes in East Ayrshire will be reduced to 18 in each of the next three years and, if so, what the details are of the agreement.

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the draft single outcome agreement from South Ayrshire Council specifies how many P1 to P3 classes in South Ayrshire will be reduced to 18 in each of the next three years and, if so, what the details are in the agreement.

Fiona Hyslop: All 32 local authorities in Scotland have submitted draft single outcome agreements (SOAs) that set out how they will contribute to the agreed national outcomes in relation to education provision. Those drafts are currently the subject of discussion. We aim to complete the process of finalising all the agreements for 2008-09 by 30 June. Subject to agreement with the authorities, all the finalised SOAs will be made publicly available shortly thereafter.

Diabetes

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients are on insulin pumps, broken down by NHS board and distinguishing between children and adults.

Shona Robison: The following table, which has been compiled from information supplied by the diabetes managed clinical networks, sets out the number of people with diabetes using an insulin pump in April 2008 in each NHS board area. An earlier survey, undertaken in February 2007, reported a total of 199 people using a pump.

  

Board
Children
Adults


Ayrshire and Arran
0
0


Borders
0
8


Dumfries and Galloway
3
8


Fife
7
35


Forth Valley
3
12


Grampian
6
28


Greater Glasgow and Clyde
9
22


Highland, Argyll and Bute
0
11


Lanarkshire
2
19


Lothian
3
85


Orkney
0
0


Shetland
0
0


Tayside
30
35


Western Isles
0
0


Total
63
263

Diabetes

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-6326 by Nicola Sturgeon on 26 November 2007, whether any changes have resulted in accessing insulin pumps following the consideration by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence.

Shona Robison: The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence is currently revising its 2003 multiple technology appraisal of continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion. Publication of the revised version is expected in May 2008.

  I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-11788 on 1 May 2008. There is a gradual increase in the number of people in Scotland using an insulin pump.All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Education

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of school pupils currently receive at least five days of outdoor education, broken down by local authority.

Maureen Watt: This information is not held centrally.

Education

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when every school pupil can expect a guarantee of five days of outdoor education.

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how much investment will be made over the course of the current spending review period to support the expansion of five days subsidised outdoor education targeted at children from Scotland’s most deprived communities.

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria will be used to identify deprived communities for the targeting of support to expand subsidised outdoor education.

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive why no mention is made of outdoor education in its concordat with local government.

Maureen Watt: Through our historic concordat with COSLA we have moved to an outcomes-focussed approach which empowers local authorities and provides consolidated block grants rather than ring-fenced funding. This will give councils flexibility to allocate resources to meet need and the agreed national outcomes in the concordat underpinned by the agreed national indicators. Outdoor education and learning is relevant to many of the national outcomes and indicators, including our aspiration for all our young people to be successful learners, confident individuals, effective contributors and responsible citizens.

  Local authorities have also committed to developing and delivering Curriculum for Excellence as part of the concordat. This will require schools to explore creative use of both indoor and outdoor learning environments to ensure exciting, engaging and relevant teaching and this will be reflected in the new framework for Learning and Teaching – Building the Curriculum 3 that the Scottish Government will publish in early June.

Emergency Planning

Cathy Peattie (Falkirk East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what arrangements have been made to ensure continuity of fuel supply to essential users, such as hospitals and emergency services, as part of pandemic planning.

Nicola Sturgeon: NHS boards and the Scottish Ambulance Service are designated as Category 1 responders under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004, para 2(1). As a consequence of that status, these organisations have a statutory obligation to maintain plans to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that if an emergency occurs, they are able to continue to perform their functions. This planning should include consideration of the continuity of all essential supply chains, including fuel supplies.

Employment

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding was allocated to the Get Ready to Work scheme in 2007-08.

Fiona Hyslop: This information is not held centrally as it is the operational responsibility of Skills Development Scotland, previously the enterprise networks, to decide the individual funding allocation for skills programmes. However, we do receive an end year update on the total funding allocated to the Get Ready for Work programme and have attached it below for your convenience:

  

Year
Annual Budget (£)


2007-08
24,605,479

Ferry Services

Stuart McMillan (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions have taken place with Caledonian MacBrayne regarding the introduction of new vessels for the ferry route between Gourock and Dunoon.

Stewart Stevenson: Scottish ministers are currently examining the options available for taking this route forward. Until such time as a decision has been reached, it would be premature for any discussion to take place about vessel solutions.

Higher Education

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any Scottish higher education institution accepts students direct from sixth year of secondary school into the second year of an undergraduate programme.

Fiona Hyslop: I am aware that some higher education institutions do admit students with advanced highers into the second year of certain degree courses. Information on the particular institutions and courses is not held centrally by the Scottish Government. Given that the procedure for admitting students to any particular course is a matter for the individual institution to determine, the member may wish to approach Universities Scotland to see whether they can provide this information on behalf of their members.

Homecoming Scotland

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how the grant of £1,335,338 awarded to VisitScotland through the European Regional Development Fund Programme 2007-13 for Lowlands and Uplands Scotland, under Priority 4 rural development funding, will be utilised.

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which communities in (a) East and (b) South Ayrshire will benefit from the grant of £1,335,338 awarded to VisitScotland for Homecoming 2009 through the European Regional Development Fund Programme 2007-13 for Lowlands and Uplands Scotland, under Priority 4 rural development funding.

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which organisations in (a) East and (b) South Ayrshire will benefit from the grant of £1,335,338 awarded to VisitScotland for Homecoming 2009 through the European Regional Development Fund Programme 2007-13 for Lowlands and Uplands Scotland, under Priority 4 rural development funding.

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the grant of £1,335,338 awarded to VisitScotland for Homecoming 2009 through the European Regional Development Fund Programme 2007-13 for Lowlands and Uplands Scotland, under Priority 4 rural development, will be allocated to support rural communities in (a) East and (b) South Ayrshire.

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what specific outcomes are expected to be delivered by the grant of £1,335,338 awarded to VisitScotland for Homecoming 2009 through the European Regional Development Fund Programme 2007-13 for Lowlands and Uplands Scotland, under Priority 4 rural development funding.

Jim Mather: The recently awarded European Regional Development Fund Programme grant award for Lowlands and Uplands Scotland (and a similar award for the Highlands and Islands programme areas) will be used by VisitScotland to contribute to the delivery of the Homecoming Scotland 2009 project. The target is to generate a £40 million return on investment as a direct result of Homecoming Scotland 2009. It is not yet possible to identify how much of the funding will be allocated to communities, organisations or rural communities, nor which specific groups will benefit directly from the funding.

Housing

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much it has invested in housing in the Linlithgow parliamentary constituency in the last year.

Stewart Maxwell: In the financial year 2007-08, the Scottish Government invested a total of £0.405 million into affordable housing in the Linlithgow parliamentary constituency, from the Affordable Housing Investment Programme.

Housing

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many council houses will be built in the Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley parliamentary constituency in (a) 2009, (b) 2010 and (c) 2011.

Stewart Maxwell: It is for South and East Ayrshire Councils to decide on the number of council houses they will build in the Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley parliamentary constituency.

Housing

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many council houses will be built in East Ayrshire in (a) 2009, (b) 2010 and (c) 2011.

Stewart Maxwell: It is for East Ayrshire Council to decide on the number of council houses it will build within its area for 2009, 2010 and 2011.

Housing

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many council houses will be built in South Ayrshire in (a) 2009, (b) 2010 and (c) 2011.

Stewart Maxwell: It is for South Ayrshire Council to decide on the number of council houses it will build within its area for 2009, 2010 and 2011.

Housing

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many homes for rent will be built by housing associations in East Ayrshire in (a) 2009, (b) 2010 and (c) 2011.

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many homes for rent will be built by housing associations in South Ayrshire in (a) 2009, (b) 2010 and (c) 2011.

Stewart Maxwell: Announcement of the 2008-09 affordable housing investment programme will be made shortly. Plans for 2009-10 and 2010-11 will be announced nearer the time.

Housing

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding will be allocated to East Ayrshire Council in (a) 2008, (b) 2009, (c) 2010 and (d) 2011 for the building of council houses.

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding will be allocated to South Ayrshire Council in (a) 2008, (b) 2009, (c) 2010 and (d) 2011 for the building of council houses.

Stewart Maxwell: Decisions on how funding will be allocated over the next three years to incentivise new council house building will be reached following discussions with our partners in local government.

Housing

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average rent rise will be for housing association tenants in (a) South Ayrshire and (b) East Ayrshire as a result of reductions in support for housing associations.

Stewart Maxwell: Recent proposals for change to the standard assumptions and allowances used when calculating subsidy reflect the actual performance reported by associations, which includes rent increases. Rent levels are a matter for individual associations to agree in consultation with their tenants.

Income

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what specific targets have been set to increase the proportion of national wealth held by the six lowest income deciles.

Stewart Maxwell: No target has been set to increase the proportion of wealth earned by the six lowest income deciles. The Government Economic Strategy does however contain the Solidarity Target, which is to increase overall income, and the proportion of income earned by the three lowest income deciles as a group by 2017. It is important to note that this includes all those experiencing relative poverty in Scotland. The Scottish Government’s Anti-Poverty Framework will set out later this year how we intend to deliver the Solidarity Target.

  This is the first government to set a stretching national target to reduce income inequality in Scotland while at the same time making us wealthier per person. The Government Economic Strategy provides the strategic framework to achieve this target.

Local Authorities

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers the increased charges set by West Dunbartonshire Council for the continuing use of its Community Alarm Service to be reasonable and fair for older people.

Stewart Maxwell: Around 600 clients will receive a reduced charge under the new charging arrangements in West Dunbartonshire.

  Local authorities are best placed to decide what charges are appropriate and fair in their area, taking account of COSLA guidance. Those who may not be able to afford the charge are encouraged to seek a financial assessment, freely arranged by the local authority, to see if they may be exempt from charging. Those who are charged are assisted to maximise their income.

Local Authorities

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that local authority tenants in West Dunbartonshire who are unable to pay the full cost of the Community Alarm System are exempt from any community alarm charges, as promised by the local authority, and whether it considers that such exemption should also apply to tenants of other socially rented properties and other residents.

Stewart Maxwell: Charging for community alarm services is a matter for local authorities to determine. Local authorities are best placed to decide these matters, taking account of COSLA guidance on charging for non residential accommodation.

  Those who may not be able to afford to pay are encouraged to have a financial assessment, freely arranged by the local authority. Depending on the results, they may be exempt from charges. Those who are charged are given assistance to maximise their income.

Local Government

Alison McInnes (North East Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many local authorities subsidise the cost to young drivers of the Pass Plus training scheme.

Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government does not collect this information.

Local Income Tax

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation has taken place with student representatives regarding the potential impact of a local income tax.

John Swinney: Student representative groups are invited to respond to the on-going consultation A Fairer Local Tax for Scotland . During the consultation period, which runs until 18 July 2008, officials are meeting with a range of interested stakeholders and I expect student representative groups to be involved in such a meeting.

Local Income Tax

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what meetings have taken place with external groups to discuss the effect of the proposed local income tax on students and who attended.

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions have taken place, and with whom, on the effect of the proposed local income tax on employers of students.

John Swinney: During the consultation period, which runs until 18 July 2008, my officials are attending a number of meetings with a range of stakeholders. Details of these meetings will be made available as part of the analysis of the consultation, which will be published in the autumn.

Local Income Tax

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many students will have to pay the proposed local income tax.

John Swinney: The number of students liable for a local income tax will depend on the numbers of students at the time a local income tax is implemented and the level of the personal allowance. Students with earned income or pension income at a level that is higher than their personal allowance will be liable for a local income tax.

Local Income Tax

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what impact assessment has been carried out into the local income tax and its effect on students.

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what evaluation has taken place on the proposed local income tax and its effect on students.

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much it estimates the student population in Scotland as a whole would pay under the proposed local income tax.

John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-11757 on 30 April 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Local Income Tax

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what effect the proposed local income tax will have on numbers of people in unregulated cash in hand employment.

John Swinney: The Scottish Government is not aware of any evidence that suggests the introduction of a local income tax will have any significant impact on numbers of people in this type of employment.

Local Income Tax

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what estimates it has made on the effect on student numbers in Scotland should a local income tax be introduced.

John Swinney: The Scottish Government is not aware of any evidence that suggests that the abolition of council tax and the introduction of a local income tax will have a significant effect on student numbers in Scotland.

Local Income Tax

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether consideration has been given to exempting students from the proposed local income tax.

John Swinney: The Scottish Government does not propose that their should be any exemptions under a local income tax as individual liability is based on ability to pay. However, the issue of exemptions will be considered as part of the current consultation exercise which closes on 18 July 2008.

Local Income Tax

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-10895 by John Swinney on 19 March 2008, how much an increase in the UK income tax personal allowance of (a) £100, (b) £200 and (c) £500 would reduce the projected yield from local income tax for (i) 2008-09, (ii) 2009-10 and (iii) 2010-11.

John Swinney: The estimated change in the local income tax yield caused by adjusting individuals’ personal income tax allowances is shown in table 1.

  Table 1 – Estimated Change in Local Income Tax Yield

  


2008-09
2009-10
2010-11


£100 increase in PA
-£7.7 million
-£7.7 million
-£7.7 million


£200 increase in PA
-£15.3 million
-£15.3 million
-£15.3 million


£500 increase in PA
-£37.9 million
-£37.9 million
-£38 million



  Note: Results have been rounded to the nearest £100,000.

Ministerial Correspondence

Hugh Henry (Paisley South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many outstanding inquiries from MSPs have been awaiting a response for more than six months.

Bruce Crawford: Following a review of our central monitoring systems for ministerial correspondence, Freedom of Information requests and parliamentary questions, which capture the large majority, although not absolutely all enquiries received, I am not aware of any outstanding inquiries from MSPs which have been awaiting a response for more than six months.

NHS Staff

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-11689 by Nicola Sturgeon on 16 April 2008, how many whole-time equivalent hours have been worked by bank and agency staff, excluding bank and agency nurses, in each NHS board in each of the last five years, broken down by discipline.

Nicola Sturgeon: The specific information requested is not centrally available. Details of Information on staff employed in NHS Scotland is published on the Scottish Health Statistics website under Workforce Statistics, at www.isdscotland.org/workforce . Latest available data is at 30 September 2007.

Physical Education

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the impact of every pupil having two hours of PE per week on childhood obesity.

Maureen Watt: The Scottish Government has not carried out an impact assessment on the target of two hours PE per week on childhood obesity. It is for local authorities and schools to consider the impact of decisions on all aspects of health and wellbeing on the whole school community.

Physical Education

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects every school in the Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley parliamentary constituency to deliver two hours of PE per week to every pupil.

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects every school in South Ayrshire to deliver two hours of PE per week to every pupil.

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects every school in East Ayrshire to deliver two hours of PE per week to every pupil.

Maureen Watt: The Scottish Government has not set a timescale for the provision of two hours good quality PE for each child every week. As part of Curriculum for Excellence, we expect schools to continue to work towards the provision of two hours good quality PE for each child every week. This commitment will be reflected in Health and Wellbeing: planning for the experiences and outcomes and Building the Curriculum 3: A framework for learning and teaching .

  The concordat with local government means that local authorities and schools will decide the best way of achieving the experiences and outcomes in a way that meets local needs and circumstances.

Physical Education

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much additional funding will be provided to (a) South Ayrshire and (b) East Ayrshire councils to enable them to deliver two hours of PE per week to every pupil.

Maureen Watt: The intention of the new relationship with local government is to move away from ring fenced funding. The settlement for each local authority is intended as a single budget which provides authorities with the flexibility to reach decisions on where money should be spent to achieve agreed outcomes.

  Since local authorities have committed to developing and delivering curriculum for excellence we expect schools to continue to regard working towards the provision of two hours PE as a priority.

Physical Education

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the draft single outcome agreements it has received from (a) East Ayrshire and (b) South Ayrshire councils detail how two hours of PE per week will be delivered for every pupil in those areas.

Maureen Watt: All 32 local authorities in Scotland have submitted draft single outcome agreements (SOAs) that set out how they will contribute to the agreed national outcomes in relation to education provision. Those drafts are currently the subject of discussion. We aim to complete the process of finalising all the agreements for 2008-09 by 30 June. Subject to agreement with the authorities, all the finalised SOAs will be made publicly available shortly thereafter.

Planning

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether employment or economic development considerations regarding the planning application from Laurel Grant Ltd to the Cairngorms National Park Authority (Ref 06/431/CP) were put forward by ministers, or officials, as material considerations to the planning authority, or other public bodies, in relation to the decision on the application or the timescales within which the application should be dealt with.

Michael Russell: No. The Scottish Government neither intervened nor influenced the outcome of the Laurel Grant planning application. Determination of the application was at all times an issue for the Cairngorms National Park Authority.

Post Office

Keith Brown (Ochil) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what powers it has in respect of the post office network in Scotland.

Jim Mather: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-12084 on 1 May 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Post Office

Keith Brown (Ochil) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, given the restrictions placed on it by Schedule 5 to the Scotland Act 1998, it can provide funding to the post office network in Scotland.

Jim Mather: Post offices are reserved under Schedule 5 (Section C11) of the Scotland Act 1998  . The Scottish Government’s position on this issue was set out in my letter dated 29 January 2008 to the Public Petitions Committee of the Parliament:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/s3/committees/petitions/petitionsubmissions/sub-08/08-PE1102D.pdf.

Post Office

Keith Brown (Ochil) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the total annual value is of any commercial business it currently has with Post Office Ltd and whether it will provide a breakdown of such business.

John Swinney: The commercial business that we have with the Post Office Ltd, as distinct from the Royal Mail, is minimal.

Public Private Partnerships

Keith Brown (Ochil) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what advice was offered by officials on the Clackmannanshire schools’ PPP project, in light of recent freedom of information disclosures on the equivalent Stirling project.

Maureen Watt: The recent freedom of information disclosures on the Stirling project related to ministerial consideration of notified planning applications. I understand that ministers were not personally involved in the planning applications for the Clackmannanshire Schools PPP project.

Public Transport

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will pass on Her Majesty’s Government’s Fuel Duty Rebate to bus operators in Scotland.

John Swinney: The decision by the Department for Transport to uprate Bus Service Operators Grant in line with the fuel duty rise does not affect the amount of money coming to Scotland. As such, no extra money was made available by the UK Government in relation to Bus Service Operators Grant.

Rail Network

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the public statement by the First Minister following the London Heathrow Terminal 5 issue, regarding the provision of a new fast rail link between Scotland and the South of England, represents Scottish Government policy and, if so, what action it has taken to promote this policy.

Stewart Stevenson: It is Scottish Government’s aspiration to improve journey times, and we continue to work with the Department for Transport to achieve faster journeys between Scotland and England. Indeed, we are actively seeking discussions with the UK Government to discuss the potential benefits of high-speed rail to Scotland.

Rail Network

Elaine Smith (Coatbridge and Chryston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration has been given to operating ScotRail as a not-for-profit organisation.

Stewart Stevenson: The experience of the last franchise re-letting process is that a four-year lead time is required to allow for effective consultation and for any significant changes in the basis of the franchise contract.

  Activating the extension clause in the current franchise agreement has therefore given this administration the scope to consider and consult upon what changes it might wish to make to the structure of future rail franchising arrangements, whilst guaranteeing continuity of train service planning and delivery during the introduction of the existing programme of rail enhancements and for the Commonwealth Games in 2014.

  Through the franchise extension we have created a cap on the operator’s profits: where the profit of the franchise reaches more than £30 million per annum in 2007-08 prices, 50% of the marginal profit is returned to government for investment in services.

Rail Network

Elaine Smith (Coatbridge and Chryston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has held with Network Rail in respect of operating ScotRail as a not-for-profit organisation.

Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government has had no discussions with Network Rail on this point.

Rail Network

Elaine Smith (Coatbridge and Chryston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what value for money assessment was made before deciding to extend the ScotRail franchise and whether it will publish any such assessment and the modelling used for it.

Stewart Stevenson: I refer to the ministerial statement I gave to the Parliament on 17 April 2008.

  A thorough value for money assessment was undertaken including extensive modelling. The principles of awarding an extension were carefully examined. The supporting evidence and information is commercially confidential therefore restricting its publication.

Rail Network

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the strategic directions and guidance applicable for the three-year extension to the ScotRail franchise.

Stewart Stevenson: The franchise contract is let and managed by Scottish ministers through Transport Scotland. There are no directions and guidance applicable to its extension.

Rail Network

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the target revenue figure which has to be reached before the revenue sharing scheme between the Executive and First ScotRail takes effect.

Stewart Stevenson: I refer to the ministerial statement I gave to the Parliament on 17 April 2008.

  Details of the revenue sharing scheme between the Scottish Government and First ScotRail are available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.

Rail Network

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the additional rolling stock requirements will be for the enhanced services announced as part of the extension of the ScotRail franchise.

Stewart Stevenson: Details of the additional rolling stock requirements for the enhanced services announced as part of the extension of the ScotRail franchise are available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.

Rail Network

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it had with Network Rail, prior to agreeing enhanced service provision under the extended ScotRail franchise, to ensure that capacity could be met.

Stewart Stevenson: It is for First ScotRail, through its relationship with Network Rail, to secure the track access rights necessary to allow new services to be delivered.

Rail Network

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what it understands the terms of reference for the Audit Scotland examination of the ScotRail franchise arrangements to be and when it expects Audit Scotland to report.

Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the statement I gave to Parliament on 17 April.

  Audit Scotland writes its own terms of reference and these, together with the timescales for report, can be found on their website at www.audit-scotland.gov.uk .

Rail Network

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what total number of passenger miles have been travelled by train in each year since 1945.

Stewart Stevenson: The total number of passenger miles travelled by train each year since 1945 is not held centrally.

  However, table 1 shows the number of passenger miles travelled on First ScotRail services since 1996 onwards, which accounts for 96 per cent of the Scottish rail network. Table 2 shows the total number of passenger journeys originating in Scotland from 1960 onwards.

  Table 1: Passenger Miles – First ScotRail only

  

 
 
Passenger Miles (Million)


1996-97
1,039


1997-98
1,086


1998-99
1,132


1999-2000
1,190


2000-01
1,205


2001-02 
1,224


2002-03 
1,208


2003-04
1,294


2004-05
1,382


2005-06
1,459


2006-07
1,495



  Source (both tables): Transport Scotland.

  Table 2: Passenger journeys originating in Scotland, 1960-61 to 2005-06

  

Financial Year
All Passenger Journeys Originating in Scotland (Million)
Financial Year
All Passenger Journeys Originating in Scotland (Million)


1960-61
64.9
1983-84
55.7


1961-62
63.4
1984-85
51.3


1962-63
72.3
1985-86
57.1


1963-64
71.7
1986-87
53.1


1964-65
73.0
1987-88
54.1


1965-66
71.0
1988-89
54.0


1966-67
65.8
1989-90
51.8


1967-68
65.9
1990-91
52.8


1968-69
67.0
1991-92
54.5


1969-70
68.4
1992-93
59.3


1970-71
70.7
1993-94
59.1


1971-72
66.5
1994-95
54.4


1972-73
61.2
1995-96
56.7


1973-74
60.5
1996-97
57.5


1974-75
69.1
1997-98
60.7


1975-76
66.2
1998-99
62.5


1976-77
60.1
1999-2000
64.9


1977-78
56.8
2000-01
64.8


1978-79
59.7
2001-02
64.6


1979-80
57.6
2002-03
61.4


1980-81
61.5
2003-04
66.1


1981-82
57.8
2004-05
72.9


1982-83
49.5
2005-06
78.1

Rail Network

Charlie Gordon (Glasgow Cathcart) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria will be used by First ScotRail in allocating the £1 million community fund for station building use.

Stewart Stevenson: Eligibility for the fund will be based on benefits to passengers assessed against the Scottish Government’s five strategic objectives.

  The fund will require each applicant to provide details on their business model and financial and social returns.

Rail Network

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive who initiated the process of extending the ScotRail franchise.

Stewart Stevenson: As contained within Schedule 18 of the ScotRail Franchise Agreement, it is Scottish ministers who offer the franchise an extension to the contract on agreed terms.

Renewable Energy

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what powers it has to build, install or run a SuperGrid.

Jim Mather: The Scottish Government does not intend to build, install or run an offshore transmission network. Our aim is to help make the case for future commercial investment, to take advantage of our offshore renewables potential.

  This is reflected in our involvement in two subsea grid studies, exploring links between Scotland and Ireland and northern Europe, respectively.

Renewable Energy

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish a marine energy strategy.

Jim Mather: The Scottish Government set out its plans for the marine energy sector in a Marine Energy Policy Statement, published in February and available on the Scottish Government website:

  www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Business-Industry/Energy/19185/MEPS.

  In addition, I will set out next month an overview of the Scottish Government’s approach to energy.

Renewable Energy

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what contribution it expects marine energy will make towards its 2020 and 2050 renewable energy targets.

Jim Mather: It is not the Scottish Government’s policy to set targets for capacity from individual renewable energy technologies. However, a resource study in 2001 found that there is enough potential capacity from wave and tidal energy around Scotland’s coastline to meet our demand for electricity several times over. This suggests that marine energy can make a significant contribution towards achieving our renewables targets and we are working to help the sector maximise that contribution in as short a time frame as possible.

Renewable Energy

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will maximise the contribution of marine energy towards its 2020 and 2050 renewable energy targets.

Jim Mather: The Scottish Government aims to maximise the contribution of marine energy firstly through long-term market support, such as via the Renewables Obligation (Scotland).

  Our £13 million Wave and Tidal Energy Support Scheme will help the development of a number of wave and tidal projects, and we will continue to support the European Marine Energy Centre in Orkney.

  We will work to address major strategic issues, such as the provision, availability and affordability of grid capacity and subsea links both within and beyond the UK.

  We have set out plans to establish a Marine Energy Policy Group, which will lead on actions relating to further environmental research, monitoring and the production of locational guidance for the marine renewables sector.

  We will also continue our close dialogue with marine energy developers and key stakeholders to ensure that relevant issues are addressed as they arise and that our goals are being pursued in a sensible, joined-up manner.

Renewable Energy

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will encourage the development of appropriate expertise in the marine energy sector in (a) technology development, (b) manufacture and supply of components and devices, (c) operation and maintenance of devices and (d) planning and management of projects.

Jim Mather: The Scottish Government is encouraging the development of expertise in the marine energy sector in a number of ways.

  We continue to support activities at and improvements to the European Marine Energy Centre in Orkney, including work to develop internationally recognised standards and certification for marine devices.

  In addition to the Scottish Government’s £13 million Wave and Tidal Energy Support Scheme, Scottish Enterprise’s Proof of Concept programme supports development activities at Scotland’s universities and research institutes. This includes recent support for a pioneering tidal turbine technology being developed at the University of Strathclyde. Support for marine developers is also available through Scottish Enterprise’s Marine Collaboration Fund, which aims to reduce development costs and improve device performance by accessing advice from other relevant sectors.

  Through Scottish Enterprise we are undertaking mapping and analysis of the marine energy sector, including databases for research and development activity and manufacturing, and supply chain mapping to highlight the current strengths and weaknesses in the supply chain.

  The Marine Energy Policy Group will lead on producing strategic locational guidance to identify the most appropriate areas for early developments.

Renewable Energy

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will make a decision on the extension of the Wave and Tidal Energy Support Scheme following the final allocation of money in 2008.

Jim Mather: We continue to issue grant payments to projects supported by the Wave and Tidal Energy Support Scheme. We will monitor closely the progress made by these projects before making a decision on the provision of further direct grant support.

Renewable Energy

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that potential developers and other stakeholders have sufficient information on the possible marine environment sensitivities of the development of marine energy.

Jim Mather: The data and information provided in our marine energy strategic environmental assessment (SEA) provides a solid foundation for potential developers regarding the environmental sensitivities which their projects ought to take into account.

  The marine energy policy group will take forward the recommendations set out in the SEA, including the need to provide strategic locational guidance for developers and further environmental research. The group will be chaired by the Scottish Government and include key industry, environmental and regulatory stakeholders.

Renewable Energy

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will engage local communities in the development of the marine energy sector.

Jim Mather: The development of individual marine energy projects will enable the involvement of and input from local communities via the relevant consents process. We believe that communities should be able to invest in and benefit meaningfully from renewables projects in their areas. This is an issue for renewables more generally, and one which the Scottish Government is exploring closely, including the preparation of guidance which will help communities to gain maximum benefit from renewables projects.

Schools

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many new schools, other than those already under construction, will be built in the Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley parliamentary constituency in (a) 2008, (b) 2009, (c) 2010 and (d) 2011.

Maureen Watt: Local authorities are responsible for decisions on capital investment in school buildings. Accordingly, detailed questions about annual future plans for school building work in the Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley parliamentary constituency are for East and South Ayrshire Councils.

Schools

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many new schools, other than those already under construction, will be built in East Ayrshire in (a) 2008, (b) 2009, (c) 2010 and (d) 2011.

Maureen Watt: Local authorities are responsible for decisions on capital investment in school buildings. Accordingly, detailed questions about annual future plans for school building work in East Ayrshire are for the council.

Schools

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many new schools, other than those already under construction, will be built in South Ayrshire in (a) 2008, (b)2009, (c) 2010 and (d) 2011.

Maureen Watt: Local authorities are responsible for decisions on capital investment in school buildings. Accordingly, detailed questions about annual future plans for school building work in South Ayrshire are for the council.

Scottish Drug Enforcement Agency

Hugh Henry (Paisley South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many forensic accountants are employed by the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency and how they have been funded.

Kenny MacAskill: All staff costs are met from the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency’s annual grant. For both operational and security reasons it would not be appropriate to disclose specific details about the number of specialist posts in the agency.

Scottish Enterprise

Willie Coffey (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much money Scottish Enterprise has invested in Ayrshire in the Kilmarnock and Loudoun parliamentary constituency since May 1999.

Jim Mather: This is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise. I will ask its Chief Executive to write to you in this regard.

Scottish Enterprise

Willie Coffey (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what inward investment and new international companies Scottish Enterprise has attracted to the East Ayrshire travel to work area since May 1999.

Jim Mather: Scottish Development International (SDI), the international trade and investment arm of the Scottish Government, has been involved in attracting 14 inward investment projects from 12 companies headquartered outside Scotland to the East Ayrshire travel to work area since May 1999.

  Of the companies detailed below, our records indicate that E&M Manufacturing Ltd, First Choice Retail Ltd, Merchants Ltd and Dalglen (No. 823) Ltd are new to the area since May 1999.

  Not all investments proceed as projects are sometimes scaled down or abandoned. All projects recorded by SDI as inward investment successes are subject to change depending on future economic conditions and other factors affecting the businesses concerned.

  

Company
Type of Business
Type of Project
Location
Country of Ownership


1999-2000


E&M Manufacturing Ltd
Textiles
New
Cumnock
Saudi Arabia


First Choice Retail Ltd
Business services
New
Kilmarnock
England


United Distillers and Vintners Ltd
Food and drink
Existing – expansion
Kilmarnock
England


2000-01


Federal Mogul Eurofriction Ltd
Manufacturing 
New
Kilmarnock
USA


Merchants Ltd
Business Services
New
Kilmarnock
South Africa


2001-02


Glacier Vandervell
Manufacturing 
Existing – expansion
Kilmarnock
USA


2002-03
 
 
 
 


E&M Manufacturing Ltd
Textiles
Existing – expansion
Cumnock
Saudi Arabia


Glenfield Valves Ltd
Manufacturing 
Existing – expansion
Kilmarnock
Denmark


Vesuvius UK Ltd
Manufacturing
Existing – safeguarding
Newmilns
England


2004-05


AlternativeSMT Limited
Electronics
Existing – expansion
Cumnock
England


Dana Spicer Ltd
Manufacturing 
Existing – expansion
Kilmarnock
USA


Merchants Ltd
Business services
Existing – expansion
Kilmarnock
South Africa


2006-07


Dalglen (No. 823) Ltd
Business services
New
Kilmarnock
England


2007-08


Food Partners Ltd
Food and drink
Existing – expansion
Kilmarnock
England

Scottish Government Ministers

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which ministers have (a) been invited by and (b) accepted invitations from the Stagecoach Group to a transport dinner on Thursday 8 May 2008.

John Swinney: No ministers received an invitation to this event in their ministerial capacity. A number of ministers did receive an invite in their MSP capacity but none are attending.

Sport

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the value of sport shooting is to the economy.

Michael Russell: A report produced in 2006 called "Shooting Sport, findings of an economic and environmental survey" by Public and Corporate Economic Consultants (PACEC) estimated that the annual value of sport shooting to the economy in Scotland was £240 million.

Student Finance

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the proposed local income tax would be levied on bursaries, hardship funds, grants and other payments to students.

John Swinney: There will be no local income tax liability for bursaries, hardship funds, and grants paid to students.

Teachers

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many of the fully qualified teachers referred to by the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning on 20 June 2007 as not yet in full-time teaching posts are now employed in pre-schools and primary schools (Official Report c. 880).

Maureen Watt: Funding for the additional teachers announced on 20 June 2007 was distributed through the National Priorities Action Fund and returns from local authorities indicate that they have employed 245 teachers. Local authorities claimed £5,723,552 from the National Priorities Action Fund to recruit these additional teachers.

Teachers

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of the £9 million announced for teacher recruitment by the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning on 20 June 2007 has since been spent on recruiting pre-school and primary school teachers.

Maureen Watt: The £9 million for additional teachers announced on 20 June 2007 was for academic year 2007-08. This spanned two financial years and of the £6 million allocated in financial year 2007-08 £5,723,552 was claimed to recruit additional teachers.

Transport

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what recent representations it has received from (a) SEStran and (b) Stagecoach regarding a cross-Forth hovercraft service.

Stewart Stevenson: There have been no recent representations from SEStran or Stagecoach regarding a cross-Forth hovercraft service. The Scottish Government has, however, recently received a copy of SEStran’s legal advice commissioned by the Regional Transport Partnership for any cross-Forth ferry and hovercraft services.

Wildlife

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has commissioned or will commission any independent research into the capture of non-target species, including protected species, by snares, as recommended in 2005 in the Report of the Independent Working Group on Snares .

Michael Russell: The Report of the Independent Working Group on Snares was commissioned by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). In response to the recommendations in the working group’s report, Defra has commissioned research into the use of snares and into their humaneness, including the effects on non-target species. Scottish ministers will read any report on the research findings with interest with a view to considering whether they have any application in relation to the use of snares in Scotland.

Wildlife

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many mountain hares were legally taken or killed by snaring in 2006 and 2007.

Michael Russell: Licences to snare mountain hares were issued in 2006 and 2007 with a total bag limit of 90

  We do not hold comprehensive figures for mountain hares killed by snaring in 2006 and 2007. However, the recently published report from Scottish Natural Heritage The distribution of Mountain Hare (Lepus Timidus) in Scotland (2006-2007) estimated that 5,078 mountain hares were killed by snaring between January 2006 and February 2007. Scottish ministers take the view that the snaring of mountain hares is an offence unless it is done under the terms of a licence. This view has not however been tested in the courts.

Wildlife

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what advice it has received from Scottish Natural Heritage about large-scale culling of mountain hares.

Michael Russell: The recently published document by Scottish Natural Heritage called The distribution of Mountain Hare (Lepus Timidus) in Scotland (2006-2007) considered, amongst other issues, the implications of large scale culling of mountain hares. The Scottish Government also seeks advice from Scottish Natural Heritage on a case by case basis when a licence is sought to take mountain hares.

Wildlife

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what advice it gives to sporting estate owners seeking to control mountain hares about a long-term strategy to control louping ill.

Michael Russell: The Scottish Government recognises that it is highly unlikely that louping ill can be completely eradicated. However, a ministerial working group with representation from a wide range of key stakeholder interests, has been set up to look at ways of controlling ticks and the problems which they can create which include the spread of louping ill. The group will assess the scale of the problem and consider possible solutions.

Wildlife

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it requires sporting estate owners seeking to control mountain hares to have a long-term strategy to control louping ill.

Michael Russell: The Scottish Government does not require sporting estates to have a long-term strategy to control louping ill in mountain hares.

Wildlife

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, given the unselective nature of snares, it considers that Scottish wildcats are at risk of being caught in such traps.

Michael Russell: Good field craft should minimise the risk of any accidental capture of Scottish wildcats. Should any Scottish wildcat be accidentally caught in a legally compliant snare operated in accordance with industry best practice guidelines, the land manager should be able to release the captured animal unharmed.

Wildlife

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, following the Minister for Environment’s statement on snaring 20 February 2008 ( Official Report c. 6079), when it will provide further detail of its proposals to regulate snaring.

Michael Russell: The Scottish Government is establishing a working group to develop the detail of new legislation to regulate the use of snares the group will include land management and animal welfare groups. It is expected that the group will submit proposals later this year.

Wildlife

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will commission research into alternative methods of predator control that do not involve snaring.

Michael Russell: The Scottish Government has no plans at present to commission research into alternatives to snaring. However, the working group which is currently being set up to take forward the regulation of snares will also advise ministers on research which is currently being carried out in this area.

Wildlife

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much correspondence has been received by the Minister for Environment since May 2007 in respect of snaring.

Michael Russell: I have received 7,192 representations since May 2007 in respect of snaring

Wildlife

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have contacted the Minister for Environment by letter, postcard or email since May 2007 to express the view that snaring should be banned outright in Scotland.

Michael Russell: I have received 7,182 representations since May 2007 expressing the view that snaring should be banned in Scotland.

Wildlife

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, in view of the policy that a landowner or manager convicted of a wildlife crime may be subject to a reduction in agricultural subsidy grant, whether the illegal snaring of protected species such as otter or mountain hare would attract that penalty.

Michael Russell: Under the Cross Compliance regime, land managers must not deliberately or recklessly capture, injure or kill any European Protected Species as provided for by Regulation 39 of the (Natural Habitats, & c.) Regulations 1994, as amended by the Conservation (Natural Habitats, & c.) Amendment (Scotland) Regulations 2007. Schedule 2 of the same legislation provides a list the European Protected Species, including the common otter. In addition, a land manager must not use any methods listed in Regulation 41, paragraphs (3) to (5) of the same legislation, for the purpose of taking or killing any species listed in Schedule 3, including the mountain hare. Scottish ministers take the view that the use of snares would fall within one of the methods specifically prohibited and that a licence under the 1994 Regulations would be required. However, this view has not been tested in the courts.

  Cross Compliance dependant support scheme payments could be reduced if it is established that a land manager is responsible for a negligent or intentional act or omission leading to the deliberate or reckless capture injure or kill any European Protected Species (including the common otter) or the use of a prohibited method to take or killing any species listed in Schedule 3 (including the mountain hare) without a licence.

Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body

Freedom of Information

Bashir Ahmad (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body how many freedom of information requests have been made to the Parliament since April 2007.

Tricia Marwick: Three hundred and seventeen freedom of information requests were made to the Parliament between 1 April 2007 and 31 March 2008.

Freedom of Information

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body, further to the answer to question S3W-10741 by Tricia Marwick on 20 March 2008, whether it will identify the two journalists from two different newspapers who have submitted the highest number of freedom of information requests and provide the number of those requests.

Tricia Marwick: Further to our reply to S3W-10741 we confirm that during 2006, 2007 and in 2008 to date we have received 158 freedom of information requests from Paul Hutcheon currently of The Sunday Herald and 176 freedom of information requests from Tom Gordon currently of The Sunday Times .

Freedom of Information

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body, further to the answer to question S3W-10742 by Tricia Marwick on 20 March 2008, when additional staff have been employed to process freedom of information requests.

Tricia Marwick: Further to our reply to question S3W-10742 we confirm that an additional member of staff was employed to process freedom of information requests between 18 February and 28 March 2008.